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How to add in a Manifest

Application Manifest

The application manifest directs Windows XP to use ComCtl32.dll version 6 if it is available. Version 6 introduces new controls and new options for other controls, but more importantly provides support for changing the appearance of controls in a window.

An Application Manifest is an XML file that describes the dependencies that an application uses. The wizard-generated manifest file defines which of the Windows common control DLLs the application should use, version 5.0 or 6.0. The application manifest has received an upgrade in Windows Vista to allow developers to mark their applications with a requested execution level.

Inserting a Manifest

1. Click the Application Manifest Wizard button to bring up the wizard.

If the executable already has a manifest, the Manifest Wizard button is greyed out. This button is enabled only if Resource Tuner does not find a manifest in the executable file.

Application Manifest Wizard

2. Read the Welcome message and click Next.
3. The wizard will verify a link to ComCtrl and necessary initialization calls exist. Having a link to ComCtrl is optimal - necessary in most cases but not all.
4. Fill out the application name and description fields. The wizard generates a visual style manifest for your application using these fields. Follow the instructions and fill in the blanks accordingly:

The wizard-generated manifest file defines which of the Windows common control DLLs the application should use

The wizard allows you to add a TrustInfo section and insert the Require Administrator info into it so that the application would be forced to run elevated as an Administrator on Windows Vista, providing the application the same operational behavior as in Windows XP. A modified exe should still work correctly on prior Windows operating systems.

5. Check to add a trustinfo section if you want to mark your file with a requested execution level on Windows Vista. The wizard will generate an application manifest with a trust level section. More about the trustinfo section

Check to add a trustinfo section if you want to mark your file with a requested execution level on Vista

6. Click Finish to apply your newly entered data.
7. Check the Resource Tree to verify that the newly created manifest resource is present:

Check to verify that the newly created manifest resource is present

8. Click the Save File As button on toolbar to save the altered file to disk. You can also use Save File As from the File menu or the CTRL+S combination to save your changes.

It is recommended to perform all file operations with copies of the originals and then only after you have moved the copies to a separate directory other than the parent or home directory of the executable.

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